Fishing Report
When is the best time to go fishing? Here in the north woods, every day is the best day. Our area contains a wide range of lakes with varied depths, shoreline structures, and a wide range of fish species. Seasoned anglers know success requires patience and a willingness to try different techniques. If you have a youngster in the group, they will most likely catch the biggest fish - it always happens. So, maybe no technique is a good strategy too. For those interested in learning about lake structure, water quality, or creel surveys, we encourage you to visit the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Lake Finder page. Area lakes will either be found in St. Louis or Lake County. Minnesota Fishing Regulations
September 26th, 2023
Steven Renneberg — September 26, 2023
***Fishing Report***
Walleye - Walleye fishing cooled off this last week as multiple fronts moved through the area, and rain kept many anglers off the water over the weekend. Anglers that ventured out reported catching walleyes with crankbaits or jigs and a minnow dragged on the bottom. Key depths continue to be on the shallow side, with 4-15 feet of water. Popular colors have been pink/white, blue/white, and orange/chartreuse.
Smallmouth - Bass anglers, too, we’re few and far between. Anglers did report some good bass fishing using beetle spins and in-line spinners, working shoreline structure. Anglers fishing out around sunken islands have been having great success fishing with medium size sucker minnows. Anglers have been mainly lindy rigging them around humps that top out at 10-25 feet of water.
Pike - Pike anglers have been enjoying this wet weather. Large suckers fished in shallow bays, river mouths, and rocky points have been producing some very large pike. This bite should only get better as water temps continue to fall.
Crappie - Crappie anglers were reporting excellent bites, right up to the weather change, on area lakes. Anglers have been fishing, throwing beetle spins, jigs/twisters, and crappie minnows, and fishing under a bobber. Cabbage weeds and downed trees have been areas to focus on for crappies.